16 killed in cloudburst during Amarnath Yatra

Tags: State News

16 pilgrims lost their lives in flash floods triggered by cloudburst near the holy cave of Amarnath in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.

• Important facts 

• The flash flood washed away a part of the camp.

• About 50 people are missing at the site of the flood.

• The injured were shifted to temporary medical camps set up in Baltal.

• The exact location of the cloudburst and flash floods is the Kali Mata Y Junction, which is located in the lower Amarnath cave towards the Baltal base camp.

• What is a Cloudburst?

• It is a sudden, very heavy rainfall that is usually local in nature and of short duration.

• Most cloudbursts occur in connection with thunderstorms.

• According to the IMD it is a weather phenomenon with "unexpected rainfall" in excess of 100 mm/h over a geographical area of about 20-30 sq km.

• In a cloudburst event, a large amount of water can accumulate at high levels, and if the upward currents weaken, all this water falls to the ground at once.

• Cloudburst is a common phenomenon especially in mountainous areas.

• About Amarnath Yatra

• Amarnath Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave temple of Lord Shiva located in the Himalayas.

• The cave is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters, about 141 km (88 mi) from Srinagar.

• According to religious beliefs, when Lord Shiva decided to tell Parvati the secret of his immortality (Amar Katha), he chose the Amarnath cave deep in the Himalayas in South Kashmir. 

• The ice lingam, representing Lord Shiva is formed by a trickle of water from a cleft in the roof of the cave.

• Shiva Lingam takes its full shape every year in May after which it starts melting.

• Other pilgrimage sites in Jammu and Kashmir

• Vaishno Devi Mandir

• It is a very popular Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.

• It is located in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir.

• It is situated at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level.

• Shankracharya Temple

• It is situated on the Zabarwan Mountain in Srinagar.

• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

• It is located about 1100 feet above the plains.

• It is said that the great saint Shankaracharya stayed there during his visit to Kashmir.

• Raghunath Temple

• It is one of the largest temples in North India and is located in Jammu.

• It was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh (founder of the state of Jammu and Kashmir) and his son Ranbir Singh.

• The temple has many idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, but its main deity is Lord Rama.